1. Start with the international service
Use CATCHTABLE Global, reached through the official tourism guide linked below. VISITKOREA confirms account creation with Google, Apple or email without a Korean phone number, and support for overseas-issued cards for reservation deposits. This does not mean every restaurant or every domestic booking service supports the same flow.
2. Search for the exact restaurant branch
Compare the branch name and address with the place you saved. Then inspect that venue’s booking options. Do not assume that an English search result, an old social post or another branch’s booking page is the restaurant you intend to visit. Keep the address in your trip notes.
3. Choose a reservation or a waiting list
According to the tourism guide, participating venues may offer Reserve, Join Remote Waitlist, or on-site waitlisting. Reservations show bookable slots; a remote waiting list joins a queue. Some venues require joining at their entrance. A queue position is not a guaranteed table at a particular time. Look at the option actually offered by your chosen branch.
4. Review date, party size and payment conditions
Select the date and available time, confirm your party size, and read the restaurant’s booking conditions. Before paying, check the displayed currency, deposit amount, cancellation deadline, no-show policy and how the deposit is handled after dining. Save the terms shown for your booking. Do not assume every venue refunds a deposit or deducts it in the same way.
5. Save the confirmation and monitor your turn
Keep the confirmation details available offline and check that the name, branch, date and party size are correct. For supported waitlists, the official guide describes email queue numbers and in-app tracking. Keep a working data connection, allow time to return, and follow the venue’s instructions rather than treating an estimated wait as a departure timer.
If the booking does not go through
First check that you are in the international service and the correct branch. If no suitable option is offered, use the restaurant’s own published contact method or ask your accommodation whether it can help. A data-only travel eSIM should not be assumed to provide SMS or Korean identity verification. Do not repeatedly pay after an unclear result; inspect your booking history before trying again.
A short pre-confirmation checklist
Right branch? Right date and time zone? Correct number of diners? Deposit and cancellation terms understood? Confirmation saved? Those checks matter more than memorising a button location. This guide follows the tourism authority’s June 23, 2026 instructions, checked September 24. We have not made a test reservation or payment; screen labels and venue policies may change.
Follow the source
Source availability does not guarantee today’s stock, opening hours or entry.
General practical guidance. Follow the instructions at the venue you visit. How we prepare our guides